What an unforgettable experience I had at the Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges Conference held at St. Andrews School, Rhode Island!

I had the honour and privilege of delivering the keynote address to delegates from across the USA, where I had the opportunity to open the conference with a presentation on unlocking student potential through Universal Design for Learning (UDL). It was truly inspiring to engage with so many passionate educators dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible learning environments.

In the afternoon, I led an interactive breakout session alongside St. Andrew’s faculty, diving into practical strategies for implementing UDL in the classroom. We explored ways to make learning more engaging and accessible for all students, and it was an incredible opportunity to collaborate with such a talented group of educators.

A huge thank you to David Tinagero, Alexandra McMullen, and the entire team for inviting me and for their exceptional work in organizing such an impactful event! A heartfelt thanks as well to everyone who joined, shared their insights, and contributed to such a dynamic and inspiring day. It was truly a privilege to be part of this groundbreaking event—the first of its kind hosted by St. Andrews.

Day two featured campus tours led by student ambassadors, a student and faculty panel, and roundtable discussions on empowering students with skills for agency and ownership, advancing accessibility through learning support and co-teaching practices, and practicing civil discourse as an underpinning for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

I’m so grateful to have been part of this incredible professional development experience with such dedicated educators and professionals!